In many ways, director A.T. Sayre’s “Whatever Makes You Happy” is an accomplished romantic drama that builds on interesting conflicts. And while it may be rough around the edges in many respects, beyond its flaws there is a really good movie here. Reminiscent of “About Last Night” in certain elements, “Whatever Makes You Happy” focuses primarily on the character of protagonist Anna who spends most of her time in the safe bosom of her apartment and books. One day during a date with her boyfriend she meets the more rugged and daring aspiring musician Alex.
Tag Archives: Drama
Hypothermia (2010)
This is almost like “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” if conceived by Jim Jarmusch and directed by Larry Fessenden. The film attempts to put up a pretence that it’s saving the monster shots for the big finale, but in reality you can almost feel the director concealing the monster for the fact that it’s not a very menacing creature, when all is said and done.
The Devil Inside (2012)
Tell me if this exchange sounds idiotic to you:
“I think I might have AIDS someday, doctor.”
“We may never know. I know one solution.”
“What is that?”
“Let’s give you AIDS and see if you have it.”
“I’m in!”
So if a girl is afraid she may be possessed one day like her mother, why on Earth do you bring her along on a dangerous possession ritual that may take the lives of all involved? What does that even prove? “But Felix, we wouldn’t have a movie if she didn’t go along.” Then why even call this a found footage film? Why not just stage it as a feature film?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) [Blu-Ray/Digital/Ultraviolet]
Curiously enough I spent most of 2012 ignoring the release of Stephen Chbosky’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” Granted, the trailers for it were interesting, but they never actually sold me to the film’s potential. When I finally sat down to watch “Perks,” I was shocked to discover that the film was not only a modern masterpiece, but a completely unorthodox teen dramedy that treats its character not as niches for marketing merchandise, but as actual human beings.
The Dark Knight Trilogy: Limited Edition Gift Set [Blu-Ray]
After wallowing for almost two decades in movie limbo thanks to the horrific failure of “Batman & Robin,” it took Warner Bros. hiring of independent filmmaker Christopher Nolan to finall bring Batman out of the whimsy of the nineties and transform him in to a relevant cinematic hero once more. Christopher Nolan, always a man intent on bringing his own ideas to the forefront and never crushing under pressure, decided to basically play the trilogy of Batman movies on his own terms and delivered three of the most quintessential Batman movies ever made. Christopner Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” trilogy presents the quintessential cinematic Batman that would come to influence a slew of comic book based films that strived for realism and an adult attitude toward the source material.
All in the Family: The Complete Series (DVD)
Based on the British sitcom “Til Death Us Do Part,” Norman Lear’s American sitcom “All in the Family” has managed to live on for decades as one of the most volatile and controversial American television series of all time. Even decades after its premiered, “All in the Family” continues to live on as a series that examined many themes about the world that are still relevant, and still widely examined by the greatest minds. In its nine season run, “All in the Family” explored themes of homosexuality, capital punishment, abortion, religion, the Vietnam war, feminism, civil rights, rape, racial stereotypes, sexual dynamics, homophobia, terrorism, gun control, and so much more.
“All in the Family” did so with a fearlessness that signaled a series that was willing to tackle such issues with a sincerity that made it very popular, while also making audiences laugh non-stop. With relatable down to Earth characters, “All in the Family” went to live on television for nine seasons, and conceived five spin offs of varying success. Norman Lear examined the themes deemed incredibly taboo in the seventies with a comedic dynamic that used its characters to become the catalysts for such arguments and dissections of what was troubling the world in the seventies, and what’s going to continue troubling the world.
The Aggression Scale (2012)
Director Steven C. Miller is quickly becoming one of my favorite genre directors of late. Premiering with the solid zombie film “Automaton Transfusion,” his films seem to have a grit and guerilla style that often add a sense of urgency. His treatment of “Silent Night” skirted the edges of camp and slasher, while his latest “The Aggression Scale” is a definite step up. Though the film can sometimes show its low budget, director Miller makes great use of marvelous editing along with limited scenery to create an intense and absolutely excellent home invasion thriller.